DISHPRO DISH PVR (DISH DVR) 501, 508, 510, 522, 721, 921 and 942 Video On Demand (VOD) FEATURE IDEAS

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Most requested features wanted

  - N E W S -
 

NAME BASED RECORDING (NBR) FOR THE 522 IS HERE!!!
 
Looks like Name Based Recording has finally arrived.  The software version with NBR is L231.  It lets you choose "all" or "new" episodes along with the "Once", "Weekly" and "Mon-Fri" timer options. 
 
There is a new feature called "Dish Pass" which you can type a search keyword and the receiver will continually search for the phrase in the backround and automatically will record the shows which has that keyword in it.  New timers in the "Dish Pass" function are given the lowest priority by default so that previously created timers do not get interrupted.
 
You should have already received a video downloaded to your unit.
 
 
With the Dish pass you have the option to search for a title on all channels or you can specify which channel to limit the search. 
 
The receiver will create a timer only for current season episodes of the selected program on the selected channel.  This included new episodes and repeat episodes.  if the receiver detects a previous season episode, it will automatically create a skipped timer.  This type of timer can be useful if you have been watching a TV series and you don't want to watch the previoius seasons episodes. 
 
For weekly program timers if it is detected that the event has changed its start time it will only be moved to that new start time only if the program starts within one hour before or four hours after the original scheduled start time.  If a new EPG download detects that only the duration has changed, the created timer will always change.  If the selected program cannot be found within those two boundaries just mentioned then the timer will automatically be skipped.  This type of timer can be useful if a program is on multiple times per week and you only want to record it once.
 
EBR extends only to shows of the same name on the same channel. For instance, you have to set-up two different timers for CSI, one on CBS and the other on Spike TV.
 
Also you can now change the channel order to either ascending or descending your choice. 
 
You may want to delete your previous timers and create new ones to change it to a Name Based one once you get this new software.
 
For more information go to the following links:
 
 
 
 
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE NBR INSTRUCTION MANUAL:
 
 
 
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Dish Player-DVR 625 to Debut in the Future
 
DISH Network Introduces Video On Demand At Consumer Electronics Show; New DISH Player-DVR 625 Makes Hit Movies Available to Satellite TV Customers

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) and its DISH Network(TM) satellite TV service announced today that for the first time it will offer a Video On Demand (VOD) service called DISH On Demand. DISH Network will roll out the VOD service by March to new customers with DISH Network's new digital video recorder (DVR), the DISH Player-DVR 625. DISH Network will demonstrate DISH On Demand at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Jan. 6-9.

"DVR customers will be able to choose from hours of Hollywood hit movies and watch their favorite stars whenever they want using DISH On Demand," said Michael Schwimmer, executive vice president of Marketing and Programming at DISH Network. "DISH Player-DVR, with its advanced pause, reverse and fast forwarding capabilities, offers a better VOD experience than any other satellite or cable TV provider."

DISH Network's VOD service will eventually offer as many as 100 movies shown on TV for the first time, with new movies premiering every week. The DISH Player-DVR 625 will receive movies via satellite, and DISH On Demand will be accessible by pressing the DVR button on the DISH Network remote.

The DISH Player-DVR 625 enhances the TV viewing experience by allowing viewers to watch recorded programming on the DVR, as well as pause live TV for up to two hours, perform slow-motion instant replays, fast forward and fast reverse. The DISH Player-DVR 625 features 100-hour tapeless recording capabilities and gives viewers complete control of their television, to watch what they want at their convenience, including network programs, movies, sports, news or special events. 
 
Sources:
 
 

501, 508, 510 TO GET NAME BASED RECORDING - NO PLANS TO UPGRADE 721 and 921 DVR's TO DO NBR!!!
 
At this time, there are no plans to upgrade 721 or 921 receivers with Name Based recording. This feature will be implemented in 522 and all DVR receivers going forward.  However, on the last Consumer Charlie Chat it was announced that the 501, 508, 510 receivers would receive NBR in February.

942 LEASE OPTION COMING THIS YEAR
 
This should become available under a lease later this year.  Go to the following link for more information:
 

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Response from ceo@eachostar.com about 522:

We will be starting a promotion in February 2005 for existing customers to get a 522. This will be a leasing option only. If you are looking to own a 522 you can check out Ebay and you will find that local retailers are selling them. If you choose that route please contact me with the receiver number and we will activate it as soon as you get it!
If you have further questions please feel free to contact me!
Thank you
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921 NOW $549 (WAS $999)
 
Dish Network has dropped the manufacturer's suggested price of the 921 HD DVR receiver from $999 to $549.  This may be happening to clear out of the stock on these receivers to get ready for the upcoming 942 receive to replace this one. 
 
 

New Mesh SuperDish to replace current metal SuperDish
 
The new mesh SuperDish will greatly decrease the windload because it will have tiny holes all over the thin metal on the reflector.  This should also make the dish weigh even less and you would also be ableto see through the dish.
 
Here is a link to the Mesh SuperDish picture below:
 
 
 

Dish Network Karaoke Coming Soon
 
Dish Network will be releasing karaoke to those receivers that have Open Tv software - Dish Home ( channel 100 ).
 

942 Receiver (To Replace 921)
 
Receiver will be a little more affordable at $699.  It will have one HD output (TV 1) and SD out to TV 2 therefore having two tv outputs for two individual tv's.  It will also record off-air digital broadcasts and a stereo agile modulated output for the secondary location.
 
This receiver will have the same software base as the 522.  It will also be able to downconvert HD into SD for SD tv's and feature Name Based Recording.
 
This receiver is signifigantly smaller (shorter) than what the 921 currently is and will feature a 250 GB hard drive allowing 25 hours of HD and 180 of SD programming to be recorded.
 
For more information and pictures of the 942 click the link below:
 
 
 
 
 

942 To Be Released Later This Year
 
It was posted in one of the satellite forums that all receivers may be upgraded to MPEG-4 within the next 4 years.  All new HD programming in the future being launched will probably be in MPEG-4 and no current receivers are capable of doing so (unless they plan on coming out with something that would allow current receivers to work with MPEG-4 which is doubtful).  This receiver is only MPEG-2 so this is a HUGE upset seeing how it may not be able to be used for MPEG-4 HD channels.

721 New Minor Software Release
 
L1.74 fixes time zone adjustment
 
 

New CO Branded Sirius / Dish Network Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver released
 
The cost of this unit is $149.99 (or less) available from Dish Network retailers nationwide.
 
A link to the picture of this is below:
 

PORTABLE DVR COMING
 
Dish Network is coming out with a portable DVR that will allow you to put content onto it.  It will come with a 5 inch screen.  It is unknown when this will be available to the public.
 
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                                      T   I   P   S

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HOW TO: Edit All Sub/All Chan Lists, View only Sub Chan in Themes

View only subscribed channels in Themes Menu without the PPV channels being listed there or in the All Sub/All Chan Fav lists. No red shown in the EPG or Themes if you edit out those channels.

I have been able to accomplish this with the 301/311 or any other receiver in which you can hide locked channels. It does require some work to weed out the channels you do not want on the All Sub/All Chan Fav List but it will prevent you from having to go through all the ''junk'' channels. I notice that the 721 does not have the ''HIDE LOCKED CHANNELS" option so this is a bummer as it would not work with that receiver.

You go into the locks menu, choose "Hide Locked Channels" and then go to the Channel locks section. Choose the channels that you would to lock (not want to view in the All Sub/All Chan list). When you get to the PPV section and other high number channels you can keep the select button pressed down to allow it to keep checkmarking the channels really quick to speed up the process. Click Doen when you are done.

When you do this combination it will not only hide the channels that you chose to lock in the EPG/Browse/Channel Up-Down functionalities but also hide those channels from the ones you select in creating your favorite lists. This makes it much easier to create favorite lists. Another thing, it makes it so much easier when you are looking for shows to watch using the THEMES option. It hides all those channels you chose to lock (such as the PPV's, foreign channels, and all those channels that are red in the EPG). If you checkmark all the unsubscribed channels to lock then all those will become hid as if the channels do not exist.

This is what some have been wanting for a while and this is the solution to the problem. To view all those other channels all you have to do is unhide all locked channels but when you go to those stations they will still be locked. You could also choose to unlock all channels. I wish Dish would come up with a way to just hide all unsubscribed channels (including PPV) without having to go through all of this, but this is a workaround.

I know you can create favorites lists but this helps with the Themes and All Chan/All Sub/Favorite List Setup functionalities.

721: BUFFER BOTH TUNERS WITHOUT PIP WINDOW
 
To buffer both tuners at the same time without viewing the PIP Window on the 721 receiver do the following:
 
Instead of pressing the PIP button Press the red "i" interactive button to bring up the PIP window.  Pressing the button again makes the PIP window bigger (just as the PIP button would).  The difference is when you press the red "i" interactive button the third time.  The PIP window disappears but instead of the buffer ending you will see a PIP icon indicating that the second tuner is buffering.  To switch between both tuners press the "swap" button.  You can also press the "PIP" button twice to make the PIP window from small to big and as long as you choose to press the red "i" button it will still buffer the second tuner without showing the PIP window.  To end the buffering on the second tuner you can either press the "PIP" button three times (making the PIP window small, big, then disappear) or press the red "i" button twice then press the "pip" button to get rid of the PIP window and quit buffering the second tuner.  Pressing the "pip" button or red "i" button does the same thing when pressed twice bring up the small then big PIP window but it is the third button sequence that determines whether it buffers to second tuner without the PIP window or just gets rid of the PIP window without the second tuner being buffered.
 
 

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                           LINKS WORTH MENTIONING
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PLAY THOUSAND'S OF GAMES FOR FREE
 
Satelliteguys is launching thousands of games to their arcade section.  Some of these games will enable you to play one on one with others on the site.
 

key
 
This key is to be used on the pages of the categories above
 
 
 
((bold links on right - new links))
 
 ideas not in use on 501 508 510 721 & 921
 ideas not in use pertaining to 721 and 921
 
  ideas now in use on 501 508 510 721 & 921
ideas now in use on 721 and 921 only
 
ideas going to be used on 501 508 510 721 & 921
ideas going to be used on 721 and 921 only
 
  ideas not possible on 501 508 510 721 & 921
ideas not possible on 501 508 510 only
 
522 only
 
top request
 

ADDITIONAL LINKS

Name Based Recording Instruction Manual

Latest Features Software

Receiver Software Versions

New Features From The Past

Picture of Dish500 & DirecTv ParaTodos Dish side by side - size comparison

Dish Channel Lineup

Uplinked Dish Network Channel Chart

Over The Air Locals In Your Area

Current and Future local tv stations

Current and Future Oribital Slot Plans and Locations

Current and Future Receivers

Echostar Knowledge Base

What Is PVR ?

PVR News

PVR Comparison Chart

Temperature Info

USB Keyboard Info

EZ Remote Spec Sheet

Dish HDTV Spec Sheet

TV Dimensions Calculator

TV Logo Website

Allow 721's using DP lnbf's to use legacy

Spheres instead of Dishes

3D Satellite Locator

Sat Finder by City/Lat/Long

Latitude/Longitude Finder

FORUM LINKS

DBSFORUMS

DBSTALK

SATELLITEGUYS

SUPERDISH LINKS

SUPERDISH INFO AND PICTURES

105 SuperDish Type I (Front & Rear View)

105 SuperDish Type II (Front & Rear View)

SUPERDISH LNBF CONFIGURATION

TYPE II SUPERDISH LNBF FEED ASSEMBLY

RECEIVER LINKS

311 Spec Sheet

322 INFO, PICTURES, SCREENSHOTS

322 - Inside Pictures

322 - More Screenshots

322 & 522 INFO, PICTURES, SCREENSHOTS

501 Screenshots

501 Information

501/508/510 User Guide

510 Spec Sheet

LINK TO 522 INFO, PICTURES, SCREENSHOTS

721 Information

721 Screenshots

721 Product Review

HD 811 AND PICTURES

LINKS TO 921 INFO, PICTURES, SCREENSHOTS

SATELLITE PROVIDER LINKS

Dish Network

Voom

VOOM HD SATELLITE TV SERVICE INFO & PICS

VOOM Channel Lineup

Voom Technical Info

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all in which have forums to discuss satellite television
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If you have any new ideas or feedback then feel free to email me at  crazysweetguy4er@hotmail.com
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Don't forget the $5.99 per month Warranty that covers all the receivers and hardware on your account with a Dish Network logo on it.  This even gets you free S&H and service calls for as little as $29.  Very important for those with Dish Network PVR receivers.

Charlie Chat Schedule

Charlie Chat Rebroadcasts

 
 
 
 * * * Charlie Chat Dates * * *
 
 Channel 101
 Monday, November 8, 2004
 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
 
 
 
 * * * Tech Chat Dates * * *
 
 Channel 101
 Monday, , 200X
 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
 

Tech Chat Recap 02-10-2003

Tech Chat Recap 07-14-2003

Tech Chat Recap 10-13-2003

Tech Chat Recap 2-09-2004

Future Website Ideas
 
-> new or improved key
-> changing the text
-> changing front page/access to ideas
-> further subject categorization (add feature, improve existing feature, feature added)
-> more pictures
-> more links
-> page rearrangement